On a moonlit night in the wide plains of Sudan, two brothers set out on a long journey. The world around them was quiet, the air cool with the touch of night winds, and the stars glittered brightly above. Their path cut through dry grass and scattered thorn trees, where shadows seemed to whisper secrets of the land. Though the night appeared calm, danger lurked in silence, for a hyena had picked up their scent and trailed them closely, its glowing eyes fixed on their steps.
The elder brother, weary from the journey, felt the heaviness of sleep tug at his eyes. The long march across the rough ground had drained his strength. Turning to his younger brother, he said, “Let us stop here and rest, for my legs are weary and my body longs for sleep.”
But the younger brother, sharp-eyed and cautious, had sensed something disturbing. He had noticed the faint rustle in the grass behind them, the shadow that moved when they paused, and the low growl carried by the wind. With urgency, he replied, “No, my brother. The hyena is near. We cannot rest yet. If we pause before we are safe, it will be our undoing.”
The elder brother, however, could not resist his exhaustion. Trusting that the danger would not strike at once, he stretched himself upon the earth and closed his eyes. His breathing grew steady, and soon he was lost in the heavy pull of sleep.
The younger remained standing, torn between his fear for his brother and his knowledge that the hyena drew closer with each heartbeat. Suddenly, the silence of the night was shattered by a savage growl. From the shadows, the hyena lunged, its teeth bared, and with brutal force, it fell upon the sleeping elder brother. The younger cried out in horror, but it was too late. The hyena’s claws and jaws tore his brother apart.
Heart pounding, the younger brother fled into the darkness, his feet pounding the earth as he raced toward the nearest village. His cries of alarm echoed through the night: “Help! Help! The hyena has struck! My brother is dead!”
The people of the village stirred at once, their hearts filled with both fear and anger. Grabbing their spears, torches, and shields, they gathered in a furious band and followed the younger brother back to the place of attack. Guided by the trail of blood and the scent of death, they found the hyena still crouched over the remains of its victim. With a roar of vengeance, the villagers descended upon it. Spears flew, striking the beast again and again, until its snarls were silenced forever.
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The villagers then buried the elder brother with solemn rites, mourning his untimely death but also honoring his memory. The younger brother, though spared, carried the weight of grief in his heart. He knew that his warning had been true, yet it had not been enough to save his brother from the fate that came of resting too soon.
From that night onward, the people remembered the lesson written in sorrow and blood. The elders, passing the story from one generation to the next, declared: “He who rests before danger has passed, is lost.”
Moral Lesson
This folktale reminds us of the importance of vigilance and patience in times of danger. The elder brother’s mistake was not in his weariness—such is natural for all people, but in giving in to it before ensuring safety. Rest is valuable, yet when danger is near, one must stay alert until the threat has fully passed.
The story warns against careless decisions born of comfort or fatigue. It teaches that true wisdom lies in balancing the needs of the body with the demands of survival. Caution, even when inconvenient, may save a life.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who are the main characters in “The Two Brothers and the Hyena” folktale?
A1: The main characters are two traveling brothers and the hyena that stalks them.
Q2: What does the hyena symbolize in this Sudanese folktale?
A2: The hyena represents lurking danger and the consequences of letting one’s guard down too soon.
Q3: Why did the elder brother fall victim to the hyena?
A3: He gave in to exhaustion and rested before ensuring they were safe, ignoring his younger brother’s warning.
Q4: How did the younger brother react when the hyena attacked?
A4: He fled to the nearby village, called for help, and returned with the villagers to defeat the hyena.
Q5: What proverb is remembered from this story?
A5: The elders say, “He who rests before danger has passed, is lost.”
Q6: What cultural origin does this folktale come from?
A6: It is a Sudanese folktale, collected among the Nuba people by Leo Frobenius in 1923.
Source: Sudanese folktale, collected among the Nuba people by Frobenius, 1923.
